Placing an order or splitting the check, each person behaves differently
Every individual is different & so is every group. On average, an individual has three to four groups with whom they like to spend time. They can be childhood, school or college friends, co-workers who make your workplace better, neighbours who are always there to help you, gym friends etc. It is observed that an individual tend to go out for a group dining at least once a month.
Each individual behaves differently depending on the kind of group they are with. Let’s take the example of a restaurant dining scenario. Everyone will behave differently when placing an order. Some people would like to enjoy a five-course meal while some would just want to enjoy a drink and appetizer. Those on a tight budget would eat a sider or search for the cheapest dish on the menu. Some will order the most expensive dish expecting to make the most of the same bill amount by each member. As per one of the study, it was concluded that when the individual knows that the bill will be split equally, the total cost of the bill will be highest compared to when paying individually for what they ordered.
Not just the behaviour of ordering food is unique, so is the payment for it. Different people prefer different ways of splitting the bill. Every variation of check-splitters creates a new and difficult challenge.
Below are the ways how individuals behave when the bill comes:
Going Dutch/ split equally- There will always be some people who would like to Go Dutch. They feel everyone had equally enjoyed the food and company, so equal pay is fair. These individuals do not have any financial strain back of their mind. Also, splitting equally avoids the hassle of calculations.
Some people would prefer equal split when the split is cheaper than the dish they ordered.
Pay what you eat- These are the ones who are calculative people. They understand that not everyone ordered the same type of food & it would be unfair for someone to pay more than what they had. Sometimes they can be very picky. Splitting will be a troublesome process but they won’t mind calculating for everyone. They will have a precise and mathematical plan for splitting the bill.
Neutral- These people don’t mind how the bill is split. They will ask for the final amount to pay and to whom. However, it is observed that some people might have thousands of thoughts running behind their mind but they choose to be silent to avoid any confrontations or to look cheap. They do not want to share how they feel about the split.
Volunteer to pay full bill amount- Someone in the group will be willing to pay the bill expecting others to do the same next time. It can be seen as a good gesture but sometimes people think he is showing off his wealth. He might upset others who want to pay for their food or who cannot afford to pay the whole bill of group dining.
One or two person volunteer to pay and is repaid- This generally happens when one is dining with close knitted friends. One or two would volunteer to pay the bill, and others will pay back later.
Rewards/ cashback lookout- Some people will look out for deals/ promos to save some bucks. They will check which card/ wallet offers cashback or which restaurant is giving some offers. Also, they would be happily willing to use one of their cards for the whole pay since they will be getting some points/ rewards.
App people- These are tech prone people who know that their mobile can do everything for them. They will frequently go out with a group of friends or order take-outs with the big group. They do not worry about the hassle of calculating bills or how much/ who owe them. They prefer a systematic & smart way for a fair split.
There are various bill splitting apps that individual can download. One can check Wesplit app. It’s simple & easy to use.
Final Word
No matter how you prefer check-splitting, respect others suggestion. Make sure you are splitting the bill in a way that makes everyone feel comfortable. You can establish & agree upon a fixed way before you go out or when placing the food order.
